Montclair moving ahead with police radio purchase

Montclair Police Chief David Sabagh stands behind a radio, similar to those purchased later this year for Montclair law enforcement officers.

As reported in The Montclair Times, consultant V-Comm Telecommunications Engineering, in a November report, proposed a nearly $1 million plan for Montclair to purchase new radio equipment and migrate toward the state-run system. Montclair's existing radio system has, since 2009, battled with interference from a Connecticut television station.

Township Manager Marc Dashield and Montclair Police Chief David Sabagh met last Friday, Jan. 10, to discuss Montclair's implementation of the consultant's recommendation. Both told The Times that the meeting centered around establishing a timeframe for acquiring new equipment and transitioning over.

Dashield said that he is looking to put together a bond ordinance for the Township Council's meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 28, to finance the new equipment.

During the Township Council's meeting on Dec. 30, Dashield said that the township would spend $130,000 on Motorola and Tait equipment to get the ball rolling on the transition. However, additionalequipment to fully equip the Montclair Police Department will be purchased from Motorola.

As Montclair is negotiating with Motorola, a final bond amount is not yet clear. Similarly, an exact time for the switchover has not yet been finalized. Sabagh told The Times that he hopes the new equipment is functioning in time for the "dog days of summer," when radio interference is most severe.

Sabagh said that he felt confident that the state system, which runs from Cape May all the way to High Point, will not encounter the same issues Montclair's existing system has, as it's been tested and utilized by law enforcement departments across the state.

The police chief said that he's been in contact with neighboring municipal police departments in Fairfield, Little Falls and Belleville which are also in the process of switching over to the state system. The Montclair Fire Department may also look into it, Sabagh said.

Unlike when it managed its own system, Sabagh said that Montclair will not be responsible for the antenna stations, generators, infrastructure and maintenance of the system.

Instead, Sabagh said, and as described in the consultant's report, Montclair will purchase 117 portable radios, 44 mobile radios, three consoles and related equipment, and pay a user fee to connect with the state system.

As reported, the absence of properly functioning radios has led to reports of low morale and concerns about a lack of safety among officers in the Montclair Police Department. Sabagh said that he hoped morale would be boosted by the municipal government moving forward with radio purchases.